Indiana Fever legend Tamika Catchings says the WNBA needs to do a better job protecting its players after a hard foul on Caitlin Clark sparked strong reactions on social media and television.
Chicago Sky Guard Chennedy Carter Carter hip-checked Clark in the third quarter of the team’s 71-70 loss to the Fever. Carter was initially assessed a common foul, but it was later upgraded to a Level 1 flagrant foul. Carter said Monday she did not regret the incident.
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Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings speaks to the media during a press conference announcing the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis on October 25, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Catchings called Carter’s misconduct a “low blow” in an interview with USA Today and said it was up to the league to do more to protect players from this sort of thing.
“I don’t agree with the low blow, I don’t agree with that, especially since that’s where the injuries happen,” said Catchings, who is one of the greatest Fever players in franchise history. “The play itself was bad. Overall, we all have a responsibility to make sure things like that don’t happen, that nobody gets hurt like that.”
“From the league’s perspective, you have to protect your players. The fact that the referees didn’t take the time to go watch the game during the game really surprised me. I was at the game. I was really surprised that they didn’t watch the game and that they continued to do it. That’s not a basketball play.”
Tamika Catchings, #24 of the Indiana Fever, celebrates with the championship trophy and MVP award after defeating the Minnesota Lynx in Game 4 of the 2012 WNBA Finals on October 21, 2012 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
CAITLIN CLARK HAS ALREADY FACED IMMENSE CRITICISM AT EVERY TURN 6 MONTHS IN 2024
Catchings said she knows how Clark feels because she too was the target of low blows like that. She was named the WNBA’s rookie of the year in 2002.
The former guard also said she told Clark she was available to talk about any trials or tribulations she faced in the league.
“Obviously, Caitlin is a tremendous player, she’s coming into the college game with a lot of success, I love her personality, I love who she is and I’m really happy to have her here in Indianapolis and I think she’ll have a great career here and in the WNBA,” Catchings added.
“There’s a lot of weight on her shoulders, and she handles it very well.”
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Indiana Fever, looks on against the New York Liberty during the first half at Barclays Center on June 2, 2024 in New York City. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Clark was named the WNBA Rookie of the Month – her first award as a professional.
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She is averaging 15.6 points, 6.4 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game in 11 games with the Fever.
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